Movie · 2016 · Fantasy, Action, Adventure · 1h 49m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 0.8/10 (339.5K ratings)
Human. Nature.
Overview
Tarzan, having acclimated to life in London, is called back to his former home in the jungle to investigate the activities at a mining encampment.
Ratings
Curator score: 0.8/10
IMDb: 6.2/10
Letterboxd: 2.51/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 36%
Metacritic: 44
TMDB: 5.9/10
Director
David Yates
Production
Village Roadshow Pictures, Dark Horse Entertainment, Beagle Pug Films, Jerry Weintraub Productions, RatPac Entertainment, Riche Productions
Cast
Alexander Skarsgård, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, Margot Robbie, Djimon Hounsou, Jim Broadbent, Casper Crump, Simon Russell Beale, Yule Masiteng, Osy Ikhile, Mens-Sana Tamakloe, Sidney Ralitsoele, Antony Acheampong, Edward Apeagyei, Ashley Byam, Charles Babalola, William Wollen, Mimî M. Khayisa, Matt Cross, Madeleine Worrall
Curator Review
Verdict
A glossy adventure premise and strong cast are undermined by thin characterization, muddy visual effects, and a script that never earns its big swings. It has a few crowd-pleasing moments and some pulpy appeal, but the overall experience feels undercooked and forgettable.
Best for
Viewers who want a lightweight jungle adventure with recognizable stars
Fans of pulpy studio spectacle who can overlook weak CGI and plotting
People curious about a modern, revisionist Tarzan setup
Skip if
You need polished visual effects and immersive world-building
You want a character-driven adventure with real emotional stakes
Bad CGI or generic blockbuster storytelling is a dealbreaker
Overview
The Legend of Tarzan has the bones of a fun adventure movie: a famous character returned to the jungle, a colonial-era villain, and a cast that should have been able to spark some real electricity. Instead, the film mostly feels like a pitch for a better movie. The setup is promising, but the storytelling rushes past the most interesting parts of Tarzan’s identity and turns him into a bland action hero.
Worth noting
The biggest problem is execution. The visual effects are frequently distracting, especially in the animal work, and the film’s look is oddly drab for something set in the jungle. Even the action scenes, while occasionally energetic, lack the sense of wonder or danger that the premise needs.
Bottom line
There are still a few reasons to sample it: the cast is committed, the colonial exploitation angle gives it some thematic bite, and the movie has enough old-school adventure energy to keep it from collapsing completely. But as a theatrical fantasy-adventure, it lands well below its potential.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Karsten (2★) · 1314 likes
monkey mondays #4
some of the worst cgi monkeys we’ve seen so far in the challenge
ciara (1.5★) · 589 likes
tag urself r u the rly bad cgi gorillas, alexander skarsgård taking his shirt off all the time for no goddamn reason, the fuck ugly colour palette, or tarzan singlehandedly ending slavery
Oana (3.5★) · 371 likes
me when margot robbie spit in christoph waltz's face: now THAT'S cinema!
alicja (1.5★) · 222 likes
my family's discussion over which skarsgård family member was more attractive was more interesting than this entire movie
2022 · Action, Adventure, Comedy · 1h 52m · PG-13 · Curator 1.5/10 (530.1K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Netflix Standard with Ads
A modern, star-driven adventure-comedy that leans into chemistry and escapism more effectively.